The Connecticut House approved a measure late last week to increase the minimum wage to $7.65 an hour over two years, the Hartford Courant reported. The Democratic-controlled House voted 96-44, primarily along party lines, to increase the wage by 30 cents next year and 55 cents in 2007. Connecticut's $7.10 an hour minimum wage is one of the highest in the nation, slightly above the wage in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Many Republicans opposed the increase, saying it would hurt workers as small employers would cut back on hours and jobs to avoid rising labor costs. Supporters say the increase would help low-income families, many of which depend on minimum wage jobs. Lawmakers stated there are 39,000 families in Connecticut living on the minimum wage. "We're making it better for people who are just barely making it," said House Majority Leader Christopher Donovan, a Democrat.